Oxytocin and Memory of Emotional Stimuli: Some Dance to Remember, Some Dance to Forget

摘要: An ever-growing body of evidence suggests that the hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin plays a central role in regulation mammalian social behavior and relationships. Yet, interactions are extremely complex, involving both approach avoidance behaviors toward specific individuals. While past was conceived merely as prosocial molecule nonselectively facilitated affiliative emotions behavior, it is now recognized wide range relationships, some which involve negative such fear, aggression, envy lead to behavior. However, way by single contributes contrasting opposite yet be discovered. Here, we discuss modulation emotional memories rodents, focusing on two paradigms: recognition fear conditioning, representing behaviors, respectively. We review recent pioneering studies address complex effects mechanistic approach, using genetic animal models brain region-specific manipulations activity. These suggest multiple roles due its local various areas, most notably distinct regions amygdala. Finally, propose model explaining contradictory products balance between networks amygdala controlled medial prefrontal cortex.